Sheffield pubs: Castle Inn landlord ordered out by Stonegate issues statement on replacement
The outgoing landlord of a Sheffield boozer has issued a departing statement after a bitter row with a pub company.
Maurice Crookes, whose tenancy of the Castle Inn in Bradway was terminated “with immediate effect” last month, said he bore no grudges against replacement Tom South.
Mr Crookes fell out with pub company Stonegate over sales, investment and rent after a year in post and was given two weeks to remove his belongings, he claims.
In a final Facebook post he wrote it had been a pleasure meeting new friends and “hopefully improving” the Castle in some way.
And he said he “wholeheartedly supported” incoming landlord Tom South and bore “no grudges towards him at all.”
Mr Crookes is continuing to run the Millhouses pub, on Abbeydale Road.
In a post, Mr South said the Castle would reopen at 5pm on Friday, December 5.
He added: “Pop in to say hello to our new management of Tom South, George and Kieran, along with many returning members of the team.”
Previously, Stonegate said Mr Crookes’ tenancy agreement was terminated as a result of contractual breaches by the tenant.